A view of the Emmett Valley in the Spring time with the Butte in the background.
Squaw Butte is one of the most prominent peaks in the Treasure Valley. Although Shaffer Butte (Bogus Basin Ski Area) and Lucky Peak stand taller, Squaw is the most striking ridgeline if viewed from the south or east (viewed from the Boise area). The Squaw Butte Ridge is about 8 miles long, runs generally north to south, and has a steep eastern front that rises from about 2500 feet near Sweet and Ola, Idaho to 5500-5800 along the top of the ridge. If viewed from the south or east, it appears that the Squaw Butte ridge is a separate or island-like mountain. In actuality, it's an extension of the Boise Mountains that juts south from the main area of most peaks. The peak is chock full of igneous, or volcanic rock cliffs and boulders. This is unique to this vicinity, as many of the nearby peaks to the east contain granite based rock outcroppings.
Rising some 5,906 feet (1,800 m) above sea level, Squaw Butte, named by Native Americans who used this area as their winter resort, stands at the north end of the valley. The Payette River was named after Francois Payette, a fur trader from Quebec who was put in charge of old Fort Boise in 1818 and traveled through the area. Permanent settlement began in the early 1860s, after gold discoveries in the Boise Basin brought people over the established stage and pack train routes. Two of these trails joined at the Payette River north of the present river bridge in Emmett.
Originally called "Emmettville," it was primarily a post office named after Emmett Cahalan, the son of Tom Cahalan, an early settler of the area. The post office was later moved but retained the name. A few years later the "ville" was dropped and the post office and town became simply Emmett. In 1883 James Wardwell had the town platted, and in 1900 the town was incorporated as Emmett. Later, in March 1902, the Idaho Northern railroad came to the valley.
After the closing of the mines in 1906, the power lines were extended to Emmett. A series of irrigation projects made it possible for more rapid expansion of the town as the major service center for a farming and fruit-growing valley. In the early 1900s fruit packers adopted the label of "Gem of Plenty" because of the fertility of the valley. During the mining era the valley was known as the "garden" for the mining regions.
Until 2001, the city was home to a Boise Cascade manufacturing facility The Black Canyon diversion dam on the Payette River, built in the early 1920s, is east of the city.

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August 27th, 2012

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